Arizona Chickens

[desertmarcy]

I see a lot of roosters.

For roosters, look for bigger combs and wattles, pointy curving, shiny feathers by the tail and pointy shiny feathers on the neck.
The last picture is a pullet but I don't really see another one in these pictures. It's hard to tell for sure, though. If you post pictures side and top pictures of each individual it would be easier to tell.

Agreed, there are a lot of cockerels in those photos. At least one pullet.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

I'm pretty sure that's what he is. The owner bought like a Rooster Mixture and he's the only SS. There are 2 Dark Brahmas, a BR, 2 NN, and the rest are RIR I think and a couple I don't know. I've got some eggs under a broody and am thinking we want a Roo to protect the flock. I'm giving this SS a try but may process and use one of the Roo's in sure I'll hatch as that's the way it goes I think. What do all think? I think they're 2 or so (Roo's). Wait and start a new ROO that's younger than his hens or this 2 year old roo? We have various breeds of hens and we're not using tem to hatch. I think i would like to choose a breed (possibly rare) and raise strictly those or 2 breeds. Until then what do you think about a protector for the flock while free ranging?

Can't wait for this processingb class so these guys can go. Clear up some space for other livestock I want.

You're doing the opposite of what I did, Dave. I started off with pure AMs white, wheaten and blue wheaten and English Orpingtons in white, blue, black and splash. Some of my AM girls had different ideas and flew over fences and ended up in the Orp area, unbeknownst to me, the results being the EEs and fortunately they were all pullets. There was an acre between pastures at the time too but the AM girls were determined. I now have an area of mixed breeds and those are my eggs that I bake or eat. The AMs left are too old to fly over fences!

When you do settle on the breeds you choose please pay attention to body type rather than color. So many people are trying to get out a new color and too many people are bidding up the new colors, just check out rarebreedauctions and you'll see what I mean. Not to say all breeders are not paying attention to SOP but a good many aren't. Join the association for the breeds you're interested in and get a copy of the SOP and strive for that, please!
Ok, off my soapbox!

 

[ChuskaMtns]

I am sooooooooo eggcited!!! I just put my first eggs into my incubator. 3 doz to start with. cross your fingers for me please. I have not incubated eggs in over 15 years. I have forgot what I am supposed to do.

Sounds like you got it bad! 3 dozen?! Just remember to jot down today's date as day 1, remove from turner on day 18 and up the humidity and go into lockdown until day 21. Good luck! I'm eggcited for you! You are all making resistance weak for me, I might have to get some eggs into my bator!

 

[ChuskaMtns]

YAY ARIZONA CHICKENNNSSSSS!!! ooppps, sorry, got a little excited about finding this thread. I am in far east Mesa. I have two buff hens, one buff Roo, one white Americana(SP?) hen, one rescue Americana?? and a drake and hen Muscovy duck pair! The chickens are 22 weeks aprox and the ducks are 20 weeks aprox. I am eagerly awaiting first eggs.

I went out and "prepared" the nesting area with shavings and hay, made little nests and placed golf balls in last night. tonight I found that someone or more than one someone got up in there and kicked all the hay out, moved all the golf balls around and generally made a big ol mess. HAHAHAH

here are some pictures of my feather kids
Pita and Houdini (DS8 in the background)

Houdini

BBQ the "white americana"

Nugget or Bemo (they are twins)

Fearless

Our little rescue, who i got because i was dying waiting for eggs (she doesn't lay either)

The ducks again.

Sorry to bombard with pictures, I LOVE my kids. HAHAHAHAH Now they just need to GIVE ME EGGGGGSSSSS!!!

Also, did I see that someone is having a party in October? I want in!

Your ducks are so cute! You have a beautiful flock.

 

[K9Dave]

I am sooooooooo eggcited!!! I just put my first eggs into my incubator. 3 doz to start with. cross your fingers for me please. I have not incubated eggs in over 15 years. I have forgot what I am supposed to do. 

Good luck

hahaha  I love my birds I currently have around 55-60 chickens mostly BBS, Buff, Wheaten and BW Ameraucanas, NN EE and some egg layers. I also have Muscovy, Cayuga, Khaki Campbell, and a few mixed ducks, plus a pair of Turkeys, Toulouse geese and a tuft Roman goose. so yeah my DH is thinking I am a little bird obsessed lol

Whoa

You're doing the opposite of what I did, Dave. I started off with pure AMs white, wheaten and blue wheaten and English Orpingtons in white, blue, black and splash. Some of my AM girls had different ideas and flew over fences and ended up in the Orp area, unbeknownst to me, the results being the EEs and fortunately they were all pullets. There was an acre between pastures at the time too but the AM girls were determined. I now have an area of mixed breeds and those are my eggs that I bake or eat. The AMs left are too old to fly over fences!

When you do settle on the breeds you choose please pay attention to body type rather than color. So many people are trying to get out a new color and too many people are bidding up the new colors, just check out rarebreedauctions and you'll see what I mean. Not to say all breeders are not paying attention to SOP but a good many aren't. Join the association for the breeds you're interested in and get a copy of the SOP and strive for that, please!
Ok, off my soapbox!

Thanks for the advice. I'm a member of the Red Brangus Association (cows) still for that very reason. I raised and sold a few and really enjoy bettering a breed.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

I just put a call in to an ad on craigslist Tucson for 9 chickens and a duck. $100. I can afford them , but have been stuck at the hospital for a week and havent managed to get the free coop I am in line for. Im not sure if i want 10 new birdies anyhow. Would anyone like to in on the lot?

A bunch of black hens with white earlobes. A black Polish (I think) with a white crest. A black and white laced. A black Silkie. Various production looking blacks, golds or reds.

Anyone have any thin pvc lengths they are looking to get rid of for my hoop coop? Will they realy bend enough to make a semi circle? Wont they just dry and crack?

Sorry about the multipurpose post. My hne is 520-250-6041.

https://tucson.craigslist.org/grd/4680138674.html

 

[a little chiken]

You're doing the opposite of what I did, Dave. I started off with pure AMs white, wheaten and blue wheaten and English Orpingtons in white, blue, black and splash. Some of my AM girls had different ideas and flew over fences and ended up in the Orp area, unbeknownst to me, the results being the EEs and fortunately they were all pullets. There was an acre between pastures at the time too but the AM girls were determined. I now have an area of mixed breeds and those are my eggs that I bake or eat. The AMs left are too old to fly over fences!

When you do settle on the breeds you choose please pay attention to body type rather than color. So many people are trying to get out a new color and too many people are bidding up the new colors, just check out rarebreedauctions and you'll see what I mean. Not to say all breeders are not paying attention to SOP but a good many aren't. Join the association for the breeds you're interested in and get a copy of the SOP and strive for that, please!
Ok, off my soapbox!

Do you still raise and have pure bred white AM's? They are very difficult to find and I am supposed to get a trio from Phx in Nov. I would love to see pictures. You are so very right about new "exotic" colors and I admit I got caught up as well but I also love the good old fashion recognized varieties. I am an AM girl if you cannot tell. They have my heart. They look so regal to me. (should have fell in love with a more productive breed) lol. My Polish Crested and my Naked Necks follow close behind my AM. Guess that is why our farm name is Oddballz Farm.

Sounds like you got it bad! 3 dozen?! Just remember to jot down today's date as day 1, remove from turner on day 18 and up the humidity and go into lockdown until day 21. Good luck! I'm eggcited for you! You are all making resistance weak for me, I might have to get some eggs into my bator!

Yes date is on a sticky with date to hatch and a reminder to candle at a week and 2 weeks. I have Incubator, Hatcher, and Brooders all ready and waiting

I just put a call in to an ad on craigslist Tucson for 9 chickens and a duck. $100. I can afford them , but have been stuck at the hospital for a week and havent managed to get the free coop I am in line for. Im not sure if i want 10 new birdies anyhow. Would anyone like to in on the lot?

A bunch of black hens with white earlobes. A black Polish (I think) with a white crest. A black and white laced. A black Silkie. Various production looking blacks, golds or reds.

Anyone have any thin pvc lengths they are looking to get rid of for my hoop coop? Will they realy bend enough to make a semi circle? Wont they just dry and crack?

Sorry about the multipurpose post. My hne is 520-250-6041.

https://tucson.craigslist.org/grd/4680138674.html

Oh no I hope you can leave the hospital soon. Is he feeling any better? any idea when he will get to go home? I will pray for you both. If you get them I might be interested in the Polish and if that is a Deleware but I think its a SLW, hard for me to tell with those pics. The duck is not pictured but If you are not wanting ducks and its not a drake I might be interested. Let me know what you are wanting for them. I have lots of PVC in my yard and first year is down and it help up but im not sure for multiple years.

 

[ChuskaMtns]

Do you still raise and have pure bred white AM's? They are very difficult to find and I am supposed to get a trio from Phx in Nov. I would love to see pictures. You are so very right about new "exotic" colors and I admit I got caught up as well but I also love the good old fashion recognized varieties. I am an AM girl if you cannot tell. They have my heart. They look so regal to me. (should have fell in love with a more productive breed) lol. My Polish Crested and my Naked Necks follow close behind my AM. Guess that is why our farm name is Oddballz Farm.
Yes date is on a sticky with date to hatch and a reminder to candle at a week and 2 weeks. I have Incubator, Hatcher, and Brooders all ready and waiting

No more white AMs, they're long gone. My Blue Wheaten AM roo is 9 years old , the 3 girls I have left are wheatens - 1 is almost 9 yrs, 1 is 8 yrs and the other is not quite 6 yrs. I'm at the point where I'm just enjoying them. I used to breed and focus on improving the breeds I had, I still keep the breeds, and even colors, separate and the EEs, like their great great grandmothers, still fly over the fencing to every pasture except the English Cuckoo Orpington's. Maybe the coloration puts them off? Or they really look like fluffy, feathery basketballs?

I do like the AMs myself, just something about them. My favorite was a white AM hen, she used to fly over the fences and be out the backdoor begging for attention and treats. I was heartbroken when I lost her but she did live a long life. I did lose quite a few to predators but that was when I was in Northern AZ and had way more predators than down here. I don't have electrical ribbon at the top of the fence nor electrical wire at the bottom, which I had up there. Also, had the LGDs running the outer perimeter fencing (20 acres), different llamas in the inner perimeter and the very center of those fields had the fencing and coops for the chickens. Orpingtons in the female llama area, AMs in the gelding pasture, bachelor pen was in the intact male field (I always kept backup roosters in case I were to lose any).

I like your farm name! I'll be waiting for updates on your hatch!

 

[MagicChicken]

I just put a call in to an ad on craigslist Tucson for 9 chickens and a duck. $100. I can afford them , but have been stuck at the hospital for a week and havent managed to get the free coop I am in line for. Im not sure if i want 10 new birdies anyhow. Would anyone like to in on the lot?

A bunch of black hens with white earlobes. A black Polish (I think) with a white crest. A black and white laced. A black Silkie. Various production looking blacks, golds or reds.

Anyone have any thin pvc lengths they are looking to get rid of for my hoop coop? Will they realy bend enough to make a semi circle? Wont they just dry and crack?

Sorry about the multipurpose post. My hne is 520-250-6041.

https://tucson.craigslist.org/grd/4680138674.html

I used 4' x 16' cattle panels for my hoop coop. Then covered them in hardware cloth. Tractor Supply has cattle panels for $20, which is much less than I paid for mine. There's a new Tractor Supply in Marana, on the west side of I-10 between Cortaro Rd and Ina.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

I used 4' x 16' cattle panels for my hoop coop.  Then covered them in hardware cloth.  Tractor Supply has cattle panels for $20, which is much less than I paid for mine.  There's a new Tractor Supply in Marana, on the west side of I-10 between Cortaro Rd and Ina.

A twin bed is 39" wide, so I'd have to have wider than 4' to make it high enough.? If I want it 3' high at its apex, how wide is the cattle panel that I need?